RESOLUTION

of the Sixth National Conference of LGBT movement

and MSM service of Ukraine Equality and Involvement
Accepted as a basis by the participants of
the conference on Sunday, June 2, 2013 in
Kyiv. Finalized and adopted for the
promulgation by the organizing committee
of the conference on Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Preamble
We, one hundred and five representatives of LGBT organizations, initiative LGBT groups, activists
of social movement for the rights and equality of LGBT, managers, workers of social projects
aimed at men who have sex with men (MSM), experts of the LGBT community and MSM-service
issues, resolve to:

sum up the three-day annual conference of the Sixth National Conference of the LGBT
movement and MSM service of Ukraine Equality and Involvement, which took place May 31
June 2, 2013 in Kyiv, with the support of the International Charitable Foundation
International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine and Mykolayiv Association for Gays, Lesbians
and Bisexuals LIGA,
identify and articulate the priorities of the LGBT movement and MSM-service for the period
lasting until the next conference 20132014,
honor and advance the overall aim of the LGBT movement in Ukraine to achieve in
Ukraine a full civil equality and social comfort for representatives of the LGBT community,
as well as that of the MSM service of Ukraine to overcome the HIV epidemic among MSM
in Ukraine and reduce to zero new HIV infections and deaths from AIDS among MSM,
guided by the strategic program of the LGBT community development in Ukraine until 2027
and the Action Plan for development of the LGBT community, we look to ensure civil
equality and social comfort for homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people in Ukraine, as
put forward by the All-Ukrainian Union The Council of LGBT Organizations of Ukraine dated
November 4, 2012,
MAKE SUCH DECISIONS, PROPOSITIONS AND APPEALS:

I.
1.

In the political sphere

We appeal to the leaders of the parliamentary factions, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada
of Ukraine and his deputies, leadership and members of parliamentary committees, and
people's deputies of Ukraine to take all steps to withdraw from consideration a number of
bills that we consider such that, if passed, will violate the constitutional rights and freedoms
of LGBT people both within and outside of Ukraine. For example:
a.
Draft Law of Ukraine dated 12 December 2012 # 0945 (formerly of June 20, 2011
8711) On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts (Regarding the Protection of
Children's Rights to a Safe Information Space), submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of
the sixth convocation by the lawmakers Tsarkov Yevhen, Lukianova Kateryna,
Ungurian Pavlo, Kovalevsla Yulia, Chornovil Taras, Grygorovych Lilia and taken as the
basis in October 2, 2012,
b.
Draft Law of Ukraine dated 27 December 2012 # 1155 On Prohibition of Aimed at

The Sixth National Conference of LGBT movement and MSM service of Ukraine,
June 2, 2013 / July 9, 2013

2.

3.
4.

5.

6.

Children Propaganda of Same-sex Sexual Relations, introduced for consideration to

the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by the people's deputy of Ukraine Kolesnichenko
Vadym,
c.
Draft Law of Ukraine dated January 30, 2013 2133 On Amendments to Certain
Legislative Acts of Ukraine (Regarding Non-adoption of Ukrainian Citizens by Persons in
Same-sex Marriages) submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by the people's
deputies of Ukraine Myrny Oleksandr and Miroshnychenko Igor,
d.
Draft Law of Ukraine dated March 5, 2013 # 2342-1 On Amendments to Certain
Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Prevention and Combating Discrimination in Ukraine,
introduced to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by the people's deputies of Ukraine
Miroshnychenko Igor and Myrny Oleksandr, which proposes to establish that
directives, instructions or appeals to discrimination against an individual and/or group
of persons on the basis of their sexual orientation is not considered as incitement to
discrimination within the meaning of the Law of Ukraine On Principles of Prevention
and Combating Discrimination in Ukraine.
We welcome the introduction to the Government of Ukraine and to the Verkhovna Rada of
Ukraine, the Draft Law of Ukraine dated February 19, 2013 # 2342 On Amendments to
Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Regarding the Prevention and Combating Discrimination in
Ukraine, which seeks to amend the Labor Code of Ukraine, according to which the first
paragraph of article 21, Equality of Labor Rights of Ukrainian Citizens has to acquire the
following form: Ukraine guarantees the equality of employment rights for all citizens
regardless of their origin, social and property status, race or ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, language, political opinions, religious beliefs, occupation, place of residence and
other circumstances.
At the same time we insist on the explicit inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity
in all the laws of Ukraine, which contain anti-discrimination rules.
We deem it necessary for the Constitutional Assembly to consider any suggestions from the
Ukrainian LGBT movement regarding amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine in order to
ensure the rights and freedoms of LGBT people, including the right to non-discrimination on
the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, and the right to creating a family on
reasonable and acceptable terms in the form of marriage or registered civil partnership
without regard to the gender of the spouses.
In order to respond adequately to the social realities of our time and for the sake of social
justice, we call the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to add homophobic motives to the list of
aggravating circumstances surrounding criminal acts. Currently, aggravating circumstances
are limited to motives of racial, national or religious intolerance when committing crimes
under the Article 126 Beatings and torture", Article 127 Torture, Article 129 Threat to
Murder of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
We call the central and local authorities, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea authorities and
local self-governing bodies to conduct public education campaigns and other initiatives on
human sexuality, particularly sexual orientation and gender identity. These campaigns should
reach out to both the general population and specific target groups in order to reduce the
discrimination and stigmatization of members of the LGBT community, as well as combat
prejudice and stereotypes about LGBT people.

II. In the sphere of development of LGBT Movement in Ukraine

7.
8.
9.

We consider it a priority to increase the visibility of the LGBT community, particularly by

encouraging the coming out of community representatives.
We recognize the need for further systematic measures/training to improve the skills of LGBT
leaders.
We call for the conducting of regional training workshops, seminars and discussions for LGBT

The Sixth National Conference of LGBT movement and MSM service of Ukraine,
June 2, 2013 / July 9, 2013
10.

11.

12.
13.
14.
15.

organizations and initiative groups on discrimination within the LGBT community.

We acknowledge a need to finalize the Strategic Program of Development of the LGBT
community in Ukraine as informed by the current state of affairs in the social and political
sphere, taking into account the institutional capacity of the LGBT movement in Ukraine.
We consider it appropriate to design and implement operational plans for advocacy on behalf
of the LGBT community of Ukraine for year-long period between national conferences of
LGBT movement and MSM service of Ukraine.
We stress the need to develop and adopt an ethics code for LGBT movement in Ukraine.
We recommend to all interested LGBT organizations in Ukraine to increasingly integrate a
transgender component in their work.
We consider it necessary to regularly revisit the question of sexism in the agenda of LGBT
organizations in Ukraine, in particular in the framework of public LGBT events.
We recognize the value and effectiveness of cultural activities (art events) in the mobilization
of the LGBT community and the promotion of the rights and interests of the LGBT
community. We consider it necessary to increase the number of cultural events, to support
the local and regional initiatives executing them, as well as to create in Ukraine a system for
information exchange on cultural artistic events organized by the LGBT community.

III. Regarding cooperation with stakeholders

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

We recommend fostering a deeper integration between the LGBT movement and the human
rights movement, particularly through initiating and/or expanding new partnerships between
LGBT organizations and human rights organizations in the regions.
We highly appreciate the United Nations Development Programme document Changes to
legislation that prohibits propaganda of homosexualism: the Draft Law of Ukraine # 8711
On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts (Regarding the Protection of Children's Rights to
a Safe Information Space). Typical questions, published in June 2012.
We welcome the involvement of a wide range local and international organizations,
parliamentary unions, social movements, and advisory bodies monitoring bills aimed at
restricting the rights and freedoms of LGBT people in Ukraine. We encourage our partners to
not only remain aware of issues of discrimination against LGBT people in Ukraine, but to
raise their voices in defense of human rights and freedoms.
We recognize the strong track-record and ongoing work of the All-Ukrainian Council of
Communities and the success of the Regional Councils of Communities in nine
administrative-territorial units of Ukraine. We think it advisable to establish Regional Councils
of Communities in other administrative and territorial units.
We consider it necessary to actively seek the support of public opinion leaders in the
implementation of work in the interests of the LGBT community.

IV. Regarding the information policy

21.

22.

23.

We welcome the long-term and effective cooperation of LGBT organizations in Ukraine with
national and foreign media, with the aim of accurately informing the general public about the
social and legal situation of LGBT people in Ukraine.
We wish to further propagate the modern concept that democracy implies not just the
dictates of the majority, but keeping balance between the will of the majority and the
minority interests, with an observance of human rights on an equal basis for all.
We consider it necessary to harmonize within the LGBT movement in Ukraine a systematic
strategy for providing information about LGBT to a broader audience, a communication
strategy for subject matter pertaining to the LGBT movement, and a strategy for the
exchange of information between the LGBT movement and other civil society organizations.
These strategies are particularly key for public campaigns aiming to raise awareness about

The Sixth National Conference of LGBT movement and MSM service of Ukraine,
June 2, 2013 / July 9, 2013

24.

25.

26.

false homophobic and transphobic stereotypes, struggle with the language of hatred, and
the promotion of equality, regardless of persons sexual orientation or gender identity.
We identify a critical need to address the inaccurate, illegal and unethical information by
some Ukrainian fake LGBT websites, to develop a strategy in response to these sites, and
to generate and disseminate to the public a list of them.
We call on partner organizations for the creation of mobile versions of LGBT and MSMfocused Internet resources, in particular, the website National LGBT portal of Ukraine and
the website Portal of information for the health of MSM.
We call on partner organizations to declare and hold a competition for the creation of videos
for national LGBT/MSM-oriented Internet resources.

V. In the area of MCM-service of Ukraine we offer

27.
28.
29.
30.

To provide the complexity of working with HIV-positive MSM.

To develop and maintain quality-oriented social projects aimed at MSM.
To expand project to prevent HIV infection among MSM by involving volunteers.
The online MSM counseling service providers are to recognize the value of notifying clients of
unique services and/or ones that are particularly in demand, which are only available
through face-to-face meetings with a social worker affiliated with a given service
organization, and to help MSM who receive counseling via Internet become more aware of
options provided to live clients.

VI. Regarding Churches and religion

31.

32.

33.
34.

35.

36.

37.

38.

We ask that that the government and institutions of power/influence reject the direct
intervention of any churches or religious communities on the forming and implementation of
public policy, as well as reject from these groups any promotion of hate based on sexual
orientation or gender identity.
We recognize that churches and religious communities have the right to practice an
alternative point of view on human sexuality and the right to popularize this view, subject to
the constitutional principle of respecting human dignity of LGBT people.
We protest against religious homophobia and transphobia, as well as aggression towards
LGBT, which are justified by the teachings of the Church.
We to raise awareness in order to deconstruct homophobic and transphobic
assumptions/prejudices as expressed by some religious leaders and organizations, and we
underline the need to provide to religious and secular publics alternative Christian views on
LGBT issues, and to share the experiences and practices of foreign churches that are open to
the LGBT community.
We consider it important to expose the LGBT community to counter-arguments on religious
fundamentalism, rejection of otherness and the preaching of hatred made by certain
religious individuals.
We emphasize the importance of further formal and informal work with church leaders and
other ministers of religion with the aim of softening the position of churches and religious
organizations on LGBT issues and to reduce the level of homophobic and transphobic
sentiments among parishioners, believers and the general public.
We consider it necessary to officially and publicly appeal to churches and religious
organizations in Ukraine to condemn violence and homophobic and transphobic aggression
justified by Christian faith/argument -- whether this be against LGBT community members or
those imagined to be a part of the LGBT community.
We call upon the LGBT-friendly churches and other religious organizations belonging to the
World Council of Churches, as well as LGBT-friendly religious leaders to appeal to national
Christian confessions, denominations and the political forces and call for the inadmissibility of

The Sixth National Conference of LGBT movement and MSM service of Ukraine,
June 2, 2013 / July 9, 2013
discriminating, homophobic and transphobic rhetoric.

VII. Regarding research activities

39.
40.

41.

Once again we stress the need for the conducting of a national representative survey on
sexuality, particularly on the sexual behavior of the population.
We recommend that the LGBT movement and MSM service of Ukraine continue to share a
common language in public discourse, through a unified conceptual and terminological
apparatus. We also recommend the publishing of agreed-upon definitions/terminology with
additional explanations through relevant Internet resources.
During the regular studies of commercial sex worker, with respect to LGBT people, and
specifically transgendered people, we ask that research institutions take into account the
presence of a subgroup of transgendered people among sex workers and a subgroup of sex
workers among transgendered people.

VIII. Regarding the next national conference

42.
43.

44.
45.

46.

We support holding in 2014 the seventh annual National Conference of the LGBT movement
and MSM service of Ukraine.
We recommend organizing at the beginning of the next national conference an a meet-andgreet of all participants and also allowing time for presentation from the organizations and
groups which will be participating in the conference.
We consider it appropriate to hold within the next national conference a separate section for
professionals lawyers, psychologists etc.
We recommend carrying out at the next national conference of LGBT movement and MSM
service of Ukraine a special focus on the ethics of communication within the LGBT movement
as well as with stakeholders.
We insist on increasing within the next national conference the number of discussions
pertaining to the LGBT movement and MSM-service issues